Storing carbon dioxide



Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATE STORING CARBON DIOXIDE Andrew W. Rausch, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 26, 1944, Serial No. 555,875

12 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to storage containers for uid media under pressure, particularly carbon dioxide, and to a method of controlling the pressures in the containers during, and subsequent to, charging the containers.

More specically, the invention relates to charging a low pressure storage container with carbon dioxide from a high pressure source, and maintaining liquid carbon dioxide and saturated carbon dioxide Vapor at a low temperature and its corresponding pressure, the stored carbon dioxide being adapted for use as a re extinguishing medium, for carbonating beverages or for other purposes for which carbon dioxide is generally used.

The present invention aims to control the low pressure and the ow from the high pressure source in a manner to automatically finally stop the supply flow when the container is charged, or when the supply is substantially exhausted, whereupon the pressure in the container is controlled automatically.

Among the objects of the invention is to effect such results in a simple and eiective manner whereby, upon starting the operation, all of the steps are successively completed automatically and normally without any attention by an operator.

Another object is to provide a novel method in which the steps for charging a low pressure container with carbon dioxide, or other iluid medium under high pressure, are adapted for practice substantially entirely by a. novel combination of standard elements or apparatus.

Another object is to facilitate, and to reduce the time of, the charging of a container of the foregoing character.

Another object is to provide apparatus, for the purposes set forth, that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and eiective in its operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will beapparent upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages, not referred to herein, will occur to those skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment oi' the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specication, wherein:

The figure is a diagrammatic view of apparatus illustrating the invention.

The apparatus in `general The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises, in general, a source I0 of carbon dioxide under high pressure, a low pressure storage container or tank I2, a so-called pressure reducing valve I4, a normally closed pressure relief valve I6 adjustable to diiierent pressures, a fluid pressure actuated electrical switch I8, conductors representing, or connected to, a source of electrical energy, and a refrigerating unit or system 22 embodying a compressor 24, a motor 26 for operating the compressor 24, a condenser 28 and an expansion valve 30.

The source of high pressure The source IIJ comprises two banks 32 and 34, respectively, of commercial cylinders or containers 33 and 35, of carbon dioxide, having syphon tubes arranged therein to withdraw liquid carbon dioxide, for which reason the cylinders are disposed in normal upright position with the discharge ends at the top.

Similar cylinders, not having syphon tubes, may also be employed, in which case they may be disposed in inverted positions, that is, with the discharge ends at the bottom. The banks 32 and 34, although not so shown, may also be disposed in receptacles such as barrels, troughs and the like, which may contain cooling means, such as a mixture of water and ice, for cooling the carbon dioxide to thereby reduce the time of charging the container I2 as will be apparent hereinafter.

The cylinders 33 of the bank 32 are each connected, at the discharge ends 31 thereof, as by a hose 39 and a T-connector 4I to a conduit 44 which leads through a valve 46 to conduit 48. The cylinders of the bank 34 are similarly connected by a conduit 50 through a valve 52 to the conduit 48. This arrangement provides for disconnecting either of the banks A32 or 34 from the conduit 48 for removal of its cylinders, while the other bank continues to supply the conduit 48.

The reducing 'valve The conduit 48 extends into a high pressure side or chamber 54 of the reducing Valve I4 which has a low pressure side or chamber 56 communieating with a conduit 58. The high pressure chamber 54 has opposite side valve members 51 balanced relative to each other and connected, by a stem 59 to a diaphragm 6I in the low pressure chamber 56 against which a spring 63 presses with any one of various degrees of pressure determined by the adjustment of a screw 65. By such arrangement, the selected low pressure permits the deflection of the diaphragm 6I, against the spring 63, to seat the valve members 51.

Pressure gauges 60 and 62. which may be located in close proximity to each other, as shown, are connected to the low pressure conduit 58 and the high pressure conduit 48, respectively.

The storage tank The storage container or tank I2 comprises an inner tank 64 constituting the iluid storage chamber proper, which is surrounded by a body 66 of heat insulating material encased in an outer shell or envelope 68. The container may be provided with a conventional discharge outlet I3, whereby the carbon dioxide may be used in its desired manner.

The switch I8 may be of the snap or other type, but as shown, comprises a cylinder 5I, a conduit 53 connecting the cylinder to the tank 64, a diaphragm 61, a spring 68 for adjusting the diaphragm'l, a spring adjusting member 1 I, and a stem or rod 13 pivotally connected to a switch arm 15 for opening and closing contact members 11 in the circuit of the conductors or source 20. The arm 'I5 is pivotally mounted on a stationary base or bracket 19.

The pressure relief valve I6 comprises a housing 8l, a valve member 83, a spring 85 and a spring adjusting member 81 for adjusting the operating pressure of the valve, and a conduit 89 connecting the housing 8l to the tank 64.

The refrigeratz'ng system The refrigerating system 22 comprises the compressor 24, the motor 26 for operating the compressor, the fluid responsive electric switch I8 for controlling the operation of the motor 26, the expansion valve 30 and a cooling chamber conduit 10 serving as an evaporator, disposed in the tank 64.

The system further includes a conduit 12 connected between one end of the coolingchamber conduit 10 and the low or suction side of the compressor 24; a conduit 14 extending between the high side of the compressor 24 and a coil 'I6 of the condenser 28; a conduit 18 extending between the condenser 28 and the expansion valve 38; and a conduit 80 extending between the expansion valve 30 and the cooling chamber conduit 10.

The conduit 58 extends from the low pressure chamber 56 of the reducing valve I4 to the interior of the tank 64, in this instance having a portion 82 disposed in heat exchange relation in the cooling chamber conduit 18 and a discharge or outlet end 84 extending laterally through the side wall of the conduit 10 into the tank 64. The latter arrangement is to assist in the cooling ofthe uid discharged into the tank 64 from the high pressure source I0, but the conduit 58 may lead directly into the tank 64 at a position outside the cooling chamber conduit 10 depending upon particular conditions or installations.

Operation Assuming that it is desired to supply carbon dioxide from the cylinders, wherein it is stored at about eight hundred pounds per square inch while at an atmospheric temperature of about 65 F. and to store liquid carbon dioxide and saturated carbon dioxide vapors in the tank 64 at a vapor pressure of about three hundred pounds per square inch while at a temperature of 4 about 0 F., the apparatus is .operated as about to be described.

At the beginning of the operation of charging the tank 64, with the tank empty or ready for 5 recharging, the switch I8 is open, by reason of lack of sufcient pressure in the tank to operate the switch.

The switch I8 will be adjusted by manipulation of the member 1I, to normally cause the contact lo members-11 during storage to close when the pressure in the tank 64 rises somewhat above the selected storage pressure of three hundred pounds per square inch.

The pressure relief valve I6 will be adjusted to open at a predetermined excessive pressure, such as three hundred and twenty-five pounds per square inch in this example, depending on the structure of the container I2.

The reducing valve I4 will be adjusted to stop 20 the flow of carbon dioxide from the high pressure source IIJ when the back pressure on the valve I4 from the tank 64 reaches a value in this instance of, say three hundred and ten pounds per square inch, or at a value between the values selected for the tank B4 and the safety valve IS. When the valve 46, or the valve 52. is opened, or both are opened, since there is not sufcient pressure in the tank 64 to oppose the diaphragm 6I and the spring 63 in the reducing valve I4, and the balanced high pressure valve members 51 are held open by the spring 63, the carbon dioxide in one or both of the banks 32 and 34,

under its pressure of eight hundred pounds per square inch, will pass through the reducing valve f I4, and the conduit 82, to the tank 64. When the pressure in the tank 84 reaches a certain value greater than but close to, three` hundred pounds per square inch, the switch I8 will close the circuit of the motor 26 to start the refrigerating process, tending to bring the pressure back to three hundred pounds, while the reducing valve I4 remains open to the eight hundred pounds per square inch pressure of the source to quickly build up pressure in the tank.

When the pressure in the tank 64 attains the value of three hundred and ten pounds per square inch at which the reducing valve I4 has been set, the latter will close its high pressure side to stop the iiow of carbon dioxide from the source I0.

When operation of the refrigerating system 22 has reduced the temperature in the tank 64, with the consequent reduction of the vapor pressure to three hundred and ten pounds per square inch, not low enough to open the switch I8 or to stop the refrigerating action, the reducing valve will again open to admit more carbon dioxide to the storage tank and to again build up the pressure therein.

The above described cycle of operation will be repeated periodically, while the refrigerating system continues to operate, until the pressure in the source I0 approaches the pressure in the tank 64.

Such condition will be indicated by the gauges 60 and 62 whereby the valves 46 and 52 may be closed, but independently of such closing, immediately or later, the refrigerating system will continue to operate to reduce the pressure in the tank 64 to effect final closing of the reducing valve I4, at the selected three hundred and ten pounds per square inch pressure, and to open the switch I8, when the pressure falls a slight amount below the selected three hundred pounds per square inch. After thus completing the charging oi' the tank 64. the pressure of the stored carbon dioxide will be maintained sub' stantially constant at three hundred pounds per square inch pressure which correspondsto the temperature at "which the carbon dioxide is maintained. .u

It will be understood that the pressure and temperature values disclosed herein have been chosen for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be practiced by using other pressures and temperature having similarly relatedvalues. The storage temperature preferably is in the neighborhood of F. or less, which temperature is relatively low" as compared with the usual storage temperature of carbon dioxide in ordinary cylinders.v

It will be seen, from the foregoing description, that the present invention provides ani improved method andnovel apparatus of simple standard parts whereby the chargingy or lling of a large storage container may be effected in an expeditious manner conducive to the saving of time, labor and material, requiring little attention and having manyother advantages rendering it a distinct improvement in the service for which it is adapted.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope i of the invention and withoutsacriflcing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to coverall the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, and all statements' of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at' a relatively low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including a heat exchanger in said container, means for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said container, and means in said conducting means responsive to predetermined pressure in said container for controlling the iiow of carbon dioxide from said source.

2. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively low temperature and its corresponding vapor ressure, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including a heat exchanger "in said container, 'a conduit in heat exchange relation to said heat exchanger for conducting carbn dioxide from said source to said container, and means in said conduit responsive to predetermined pressure in said containerY for stopping the flow of carbon dioxide from said source.

3. In combination, a source or high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including a vheat exchanger in said container, means for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said container, and a balanced reducing valve in said conducting means responsive to predetermined pressure in said container for stopping the ow of carbon dioxide from said source.

4. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including an evaporator inl said container, a conduit extending into said #container and arranged in heat exchange relation to said evaporator for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said container, and means in said conductingl means responsive to predetermined pressure in said container for.

stopping the iiow of carbon dioxide from said 10 Source.

5. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively'low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including4 a heat exchanger in said container, means for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said container, and means in said conducting means responsive to pressure higher than said vapor pressure for stopping the flow of carbon dioxide from said source.

6. In combination, a sourceof high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively low temperature and'its corresponding vapor pressure, safety means responsive to a predetermined excess pressure higher than said vapor pressure for relieving said container, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including a heat exchanger in said container,

means for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said container, and means in said conducting means responsive to pressure of a value between said'vapor pressure and said excess pressure for stopping the'flow of carbon dioxide from said source. l

7. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively low temperature and its correspondingvapor pressure, safety means responsive to a predetermined excess pressure higher than said vapor pressure for relieving said container, mechanism for supplying refrigeration including a heat exchanger in said container, means for conducting carbon dioxide from said 45 source to said container, and a balanced reducing valve in said conducting means responsive to pressure of a value between said vapor pressure and said excess pressure for stopping the flow of carbon dioxide from said source.

8. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon 4dioxide at a relatively low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure, means for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said con- 55 tainer, valve means in said conducting means responsive to predetermined pressure in said container for repeatedly stopping the flow of carbon dioxide from said source, and means for supplying refrigeration in said container for reducing the pressure in said container after each of successive such stoppages for opening said valve means. j

9. In combination, a source of high pressure carbon dioxide, a container for storing carbon dioxide at a relatively low temperature and its corresponding vapor pressure, means for conducting carbon dioxide from said source to said container, valve means in said conducting means responsive to predeterminedpressure in said container for repeatedly stopping the flow of carbon dioxide .from said source, means for supplying refrigeration in said container for reducing the pressure in said container after each of successive such stoppages for opening said valve means, and means for controlling the operation of said asiduo erating the carbon dioxide while maintaining its volume substantially constant prior to being introduced into the container and then introducing it into the container, stopping the introduction of carbon dioxide responsive to a predetermined pressure established in the container, lowering the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the container, and again introducing carbon dioxide into the container responsive to the pressure in the container until said predetermined pressure in the container has been reestablished.

11. The method of charging a container with carbon dioxide, which comprises supplying carbon dioxide at a high pressure, reducing the pressure of the carbon dioxide to a lower value and introducing the carbon dioxide into the container, stopping the introduction of carbon dioxide responsive to a predetermined pressure established in the container, lowering the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the container, again introducing carbon dioxide into the container responsive to the pressure in the container until said predetermined pressure in the container has been re-established, repeating the stopping and introducing cycle until the container is charged, and thereafter maintaining the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the container at a desired value by supplying refrigeration in response to an increase in pressure of the carbon dioxide.

12. The method ot charging a container with carbon dioxide. which comprises supplying carbon dioxide at a high-pressure, reducing the pressure of the carbon dioxide to a lower value, refrigerating the carbon dioxide while maintaining its volume substantially constant prior to being introduced into the container and then introducing it into the container, stopping the introduction of carbon dioxide responsive to 'a predetermined pressure established in the container, refrigerating the carbon dioxide in the container tolower -the pressure thereof, again introducing carbon dioxide into the container responsive to the pressure in the container until said predetermined pressure in the container has been re-established, repeating the stopping and introducing cycle until the container is charged, and thereafter maintaining the pressure of the carbon dioxidev in the container at a desired value by supplying refrigeration in response to an increase in pres- .sureA of the carbon dioxide.

ANDREW W. RAUSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,874,803 Reed Aug. 30, 1932 2,075,408 Sholes Mar. 30, 1937 2,180,231 Geertz et al Nov. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,619 Australia Mar. 3, 1934 

